Local trainer helps bullied youth (with video)

Local personal trainer Ryan Spiteri has made it his mission to help community youth who are being bullied.

Recently, he has noticed how cruel some teenagers can be from witnessing some disturbing events. As a father of three, he thinks bullied young adults need someone to volunteer time to them.

“I live here in Madison Heights, and every year I end up breaking up 20 plus fights per year, and that’s just right here down the street,” Spiteri, 31, said. “... Nowadays, (kids) they don’t know when to stop... it’s gotten out of hand, and everyone wants to say something needs to be done, but no one actually does it.”

He came up with an idea that would use his personal training skills for the common good — help build the self-confidence of the youth that are being bullied.

Spiteri plans to open the doors of Snap Fitness in Birmingham, where he is the head trainer, to area teens and young adults. He will coach them approximately once a week.

The program will also feature special guest athletes and trainers.

“Most of these kids ,they’re an easy target, and they don’t have the confidence level,” Spiteri said. “My direct target is going to train them so they can physically handle themselves.”

The program does not encourage violence in any way, but will allow the participants to gain self-confidence, rebuild their mentality, relieve stress and transform their body.

“A lot of these kids ... feel a little bit lost because they’ve been beaten down so physically and emotionally,” Spiteri said. “(The program is) going to bring them in, and it’s going to bring them together with other kids (in similar situations).”

Through the program, he hopes to give the teens a chance to stand up for themselves.

“The main goal is to get them feeling important in life,” he said. “Some of these kids need the donated time ... my main goal is just to get the word out so kids know and even parents who have kids that are going through this know.”

He wants younger people to know that they are not alone.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you can do things that changes the approach toward things,” Spiteri said. “I have a passion for this, I have a passion for training. I’m a father of three. I don’t want to send my kids to school in fear.”

Aside from helping bullied youth, Spiteri is also a local entrepreneur and his business is growing rapidly.

When he only had about $200 to his name, he wanted to make his dreams of starting his own business a reality.

Spiteri had to decide how to invest the little money he had into his business.

He started in 2007 by making T-shirts from a company called “Garage Muscle,” which was the name for his new personal training business that he was launching from his garage.

Spiteri spent six months learning Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator so he did not have to pay a graphic designer for the designs of his shirts.

He found a company that would print the shirts at a low cost. The company was an instant hit among sports fans, athletes and others.

In 2011, Spiteri launched a collection of sports apparel called “Trained in Detroit.”

When Spiteri rented a booth at a professional Mixed Martial Arts event at the Palace of Auburn Hills, all of the merchandise he had on hand was sold out before the event started.

The items Spiteri sells have become popular, being worn by both amateur and professional athletes, which he stresses he has never paid them to do. Athletes include Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Daron Cruickshank, Strikeforce and Bellator fighter Ben Lagman, and Kronk professional boxer Leandre White.

“It has just been so big, and so overwhelming,” he said.

“Trained in Detroit” officially became a trademark of Garage Muscle LLC in 2012.

Since his first event, he has continued to turn a profit and fully invested all of the money back into the business. He has never taken out a business loan.

“I will not take a business loan out, I could walk away and not owe a dime,” Spiteri said.

All of the apparel is also made locally.

“My clothing I purchase here in Michigan, and all the design and embroidery work is done here,” Spiteri said. “The name and everything itself is Michigan-based.”

Lionsgate also approached Spiteri for their film “Warrior,” which he helped host two VIP-only premiere showings of the film.

The clothing will be making its appearance on “Good Morning America” this month, which fitness expert Peter Nielsen will wear on the show. It has also been seen recently on Peter’s Principles.